Program Specialist 2 - TRiO Student Support Services

Big Bend Community College; Moses Lake (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, prescription drug, and

Dental insurance

Job summary

Big Bend Community College seeks a Program Specialist 2 to guide TRIO SSS participants through admissions, enrollment and financial aid processes. You will coordinate workshops, manage records, and support academic success in a fast-paced, student-centered environment.

You will supervise 2–4 student assistants, assist with budgets, and promote program services via campus and social channels. This role emphasizes equity, inclusion, and collaboration across college teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, digital marketing, public relations, business analytics, or communications.
• Professional experience managing social media, event planning, and creating marketing materials.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and data management systems.
• Experience working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of FERPA and handling student information confidentially.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate quarterly calendars of workshops, campus visits, transfer events, and key deadlines with the TRIO team.
• Oversee TRIO SSS social media accounts and create promotional materials.
• Maintain confidential student records and assist with data collection and reporting.
• Supervise and mentor 2–4 student employees and train them on records and communication tasks.
• Monitor program budgets, process purchase orders, and support program operations.

Job description

Position Summary Big Bend Community College, a rural college serving vibrant, culturally rich communities in the Columbia Basin of Central Washington, invites applications for a Program Specialist 2 in the college's TRiO Student Support Services Department. The position is a full‑time, 32‑hour‑per‑week (80% FTE) position with applicable benefits contingent on continued grant funding. Big Bend Community College is looking for a dedicated and student‑focused Program Specialist 2 to serve as a key resource for students seeking guidance on admissions, enrollment, financial aid, and academic support. As the first point of contact in a fast‑paced and collaborative environment, you will play a critical role in ensuring students receive clear and accurate information to help them enroll, persist, and succeed. Whether assisting students in person, over the phone, or through virtual communication, you will provide compassionate and solution‑oriented support to help students overcome barriers and reach their goals. This role is perfect for a detail‑oriented and service‑mindful individual who thrives in a dynamic team setting and is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive student experience. If you enjoy working in an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on students’ success, we invite you to apply!

To work at the college, you will participate in a movement. We are taking action to intentionally and fearlessly create a college where all feel they belong, all people are represented and respected for their lived experiences, and each has received the recognition and support needed to thrive. Our students, the HEART of Big Bend Community College, and our employees, the SOUL, are the reason for deepening our commitment to this movement.

Big Bend Community College’s organizational strength is captured in our small yet mighty spirit…a small college taking on BIG things to enact BIG change to lift our students and employees. We are dedicated to extending postsecondary access to all our service district members and providing an environment for all to grow personally and professionally, steered by our mission and vision.

Vision

To become our communities' first choice to dream, learn, and succeed.

Mission

• Serve as a Bridge
• Stand as a Leader
• Support for Success

Guiding Principles

• Honor our Role as a Hispanic-Serving Institution
• Advocate for Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity
• Embrace our Workplace Norms
• Innovate Proactively
• Model Integrity
• Educate All

If you share these values, we encourage you to join the movement happening at Big Bend Community College.

Essential Job Duties

Program Coordination

• Develop and maintain a quarterly calendar of workshops, campus visits, transfer bridge event, and key college deadlines in collaboration with the TRIO team.
• Coordinate logistical arrangements for events, including meetings, conferences, and travel, ensuring timely reimbursements and reconciliations.
• Organize and oversee service-learning and work-based learning experiences on and off campus.

Student Support & Compliance

• Serve as the primary point of contact for TRIO participants, staff, and external stakeholders, providing excellent customer service.
• Process student applications, verify eligibility, and manage intake processes.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information in compliance with FERPA and institutional policies.
• Re‑engage inactive students and support graduates through the transfer process.

Records & Data Management

• Organize and maintain accurate physical and digital student files to meet grant compliance and reporting standards.
• Assist in collecting data for the Annual Performance Report (APR) and grant applications.
• Support the Director in using data to make informed, data-driven decisions.

Marketing & Social Media

• Oversee TRIO SSS social media accounts, ensuring engaging, relevant, and consistent content.
• Create promotional materials, including flyers, advertisements, and reports highlighting program success.
• Maintain and update the TRIO SSS Canvas (non-credit) course with program and college resources.

Supervision & Training

• Supervise and mentor 2-4 student employees, ensuring they provide high-quality support for program operations.
• Train student employees in database management, filing, and social media tasks.

Administrative Duties

• Monitor program budgets and assist with fiscal record‑keeping.
• Submit purchase orders, track expenses, and maintain office inventory.
• Ensure an organized, student‑friendly office environment, including bulletin boards and inventory.

Other Work Activities

• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.
• Ensures no injuries to self or others by following safe work practices and policies, including security, infection control, fire, disaster, safe lifting and body mechanics.
• Ensures compliance with college policies and procedures and state and federal regulations.
• Conduct self in a professional manner and ensures the interaction with team members and other support groups is conducted in a courteous and efficient manner conducive to the college’s values.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as may be required.

Duties Of The Position Require Experience And Knowledge In

• Familiarity with TRIO programs or experience working with first‑generation, low‑income, and underrepresented student populations.
• Proficiency in social media management, event planning, and marketing strategies.
• Knowledge of data collection, analysis, and reporting for program improvement.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, including budget monitoring and compliance.
• Competence in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and data management systems.

Duties Of The Position Require The Ability To

• Communicate effectively with diverse populations and foster a welcoming, inclusive environment.
• Manage multiple tasks and deadlines with attention to detail and efficiency.
• Analyze data to create impactful marketing tools and support program decision‑making.
• Supervise and mentor student employees.
• Adapt to dynamic work environments and prioritize tasks under pressure.

Required Work Schedule And Work Environment

Work is primarily office‑based and is sedentary in nature with frequent repetitive hand and wrist motions. Frequent use of computers and exposure to computer screens in performing work assignments. Frequent need for oral and written communications and ability to successfully monitor in‑person and online testing for compliance with outside agencies’ regulations. Occasional need to kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, reach, and lift up to 25 lbs. in an office environment. Ability to communicate using verbal and/or written skills for accurate exchange of information with faculty, staff, professionals, students, and the public. 7:30am to 3:00pm, Monday through Thursday and 7:30am to 11:30am on Friday. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required to support program events.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, digital marketing, public relations, business analytics, communications, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Professional experience managing social media, coordinating events, and/or creating marketing materials.
• Working knowledge of office software and technology including the Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams) and Zoom.
• Experience working effectively with individuals from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education.
• Strong leadership, team building, and group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing a high level of customer service to participants, college personnel, stakeholders, and guests.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, track work in progress, maintain accuracy, multitask, and effectively manage competing deadlines and interruptions.
• Experience working with TRIO programs or similar federally funded initiatives.
• Commitment to supporting the success of first‑generation, low‑income, and students with disabilities.

Benefits

Big Bend encourages staff development, and personal and professional growth. Internal and external opportunities for training and development are offered each year to build employee competencies and develop leadership capacity. Participation in the State Employee Tuition Waiver program provide further potential for personal and career growth.

• Health, vision, prescription drug, and dental insurance for the employee and dependents. There are several plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
• Employees are also covered by basic life insurance, AD&D, and long‑term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
• Additional insurance coverage, like auto insurance, is available to state employees at reduced rates. Visit Washington Health Care Authority's Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) Program at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov.
• We will help you prepare for life after your career by offering an excellent retirement plan, which includes employer contributions. In addition, employees have the option to participate in two tax‑deferred retirement investment programs.
• Leave benefits include 12 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and vacation accrual of 12-24 days of vacation per year.
• Big Bend encourages staff development, and personal and professional growth. Internal and external opportunities for training and development are offered each year to build employee competencies and develop leadership capacity. Participation in the State Employee Tuition Waiver program provide further potential for personal and career growth.

Conditions of Employment

Pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant's current or past employers. By law, postsecondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who does not complete the questions.

Prior to employment, a background check, including criminal record history, will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform the position.

Per Governor Inslee's Proclamation 21-14.1, employees of higher education must be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID‑19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be asked to provide proof of their COVID‑19 vaccination or request and be approved for a medical or religious exemption before beginning their employment with the college.

An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of Big Bend Community College to sponsor an H-1B visa. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire.

Official transcripts must be provided to the college upon hire.

Reasonable Accommodation

Big Bend provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Please direct all inquiries regarding compliance with access, equal opportunity, and/or grievances to the Executive Director of Human Resources/Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator/Section 504 Coordinator, BBCC 7662 Chanute Street NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837; or via email at [e-mail].

In compliance with state and federal regulations, the college is committed to a safe and drug and alcohol‑free campus. Employees are expected to comply with the college’s policy prohibiting illegal drug use or activity, including notifications of criminal drug convictions and the use of prescription drugs or over‑the‑counter medications that are likely to affect job safety. The complete policy and procedure are available to view on the policies page (Download PDF reader) of the college’s website. A printed copy of the policy and procedure is available by contacting the Human Resources Office at 509-793-2008.

BBCC Annual Security Report

Big Bend Community College strives to be a safe and secure campus for our students, employees, and community. Detailed information regarding campus security, crime statistics for the most recent three‑year period, and other information are available on the Campus Safety and Security page of the college’s website. If you have questions or would like a printed copy of the materials, please contact Campus Safety and Security at 509-793-2286.

Equal Opportunity

Big Bend Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical, mental or sensory disability, use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, marital status, pregnancy status or families with children, a mother breastfeeding her child, AIDS/HIV or hepatitis C, genetic information, and/or status as a veteran or any other legally protected classification.